Last modified: 2006-11-25 by dov gutterman
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image by Mark Sensen, 14 December 2003
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Mr. Anton Jansen edited for some time the magazine
"Vlaggen", in which he wrote most articles himself. In
"Vlaggen", no. 39, 1986 and article about the Dutch
Westindian island of Saba. It is based on a booklet "Flag,
Anthem and Emblem of Saba", by the Department of Arts of
Saba.
Flag: proportions 2:3. The colors are red, white, blue and gold
(=yellow). The top is divided into two equal red triangles, the
bottom is divided into two equal blue triangles. In flagcenter is
a wjite diamond with a golden (=yellow) five-pointed star in the
center. The star represents Saba. The gold/yellow color signifies
that Saba is a precious possession and dear to the heart of all
Sabans. The gold/yellow symbolizes too the wealth of natural
beauty to be found on Saba. It also means hope of a happy future
for Saba. The colors red, white and blue represent the historical
and political ties between the Netherlands and the Netherlands
Antilles. White symbolizes too peace, friedship, purity and rest.
Red symbolizes unity, courage and decisiveness. Blue stands for
the sea, which plays such an important part for the people of
Saba. It symbolizes too heaven, which reminds us of the Allmighty
God, who created this island.
About the Coat of Arms: On top of the shield
is wedrego (this is an indigeneous bird on Saba, of which the
Latin name is Puffinus Iherminieri, English: Audubon's
Shearwater). This wedrego is represented as the national Saban
bird. It is surrounded by secrecy and lonelyness, which lives off
the sea and enjoys its plenty, but also endures its difficulties.
Just like the Sabans the bird meets an unsecure future, but does
so in beauty, hope, forve and and determination. The bird is
flanked by pieces of the famous Saban cabbage, which has in
important place between our foodcrops. Our unique and unsurpassed
island of legendary beauty occupies the center of the shield. It
is surrounded by the emblems of its greatness, like the ships
sailing the seven oceans, the fishery, the agriculture,
especially the famous white potato, and its unsurpassed climate.
The whole shield represents the beauty, sufferings, sturdiness
and the friendship and tolerance of this unusual people blessed
by God. The device is: REMIS VELISQUE, literally: "with
(rowing)oars and sails", figuartive: "with all one's
might". The image in the booklet shows a white (silver)
shield, with a green, apparently emerging from the sea, mountain,
before which a white (silver) cloud hangs. The fish (or fishes)
in the heraldically right corner are apparently colored gold; the
ship in the hearldically left corner has a red hull, the rest is
uncolored and the "famous white potato"in the bottom of
the shield is represented in gold.. Coat of Arms,
flag and island hymn are the result of a prize contest, which
resulted in 28 designs for the arms, and 130 flagdesigns. Arms,
flag and anthem "Saba you rise from the ocean" were
publicly approved by the Island council of Saba.
Warning: Whoever intentionally destroys or besmears the Saban
flag or through offensive or insulting behavior tries to
undermine the respect for the Saban flag shall be punished with
imprisonment of max. two (2) months or with a fine of max. NAF
5,000 (five thousand guilders)!
THE FLAG SONG: In honor of the official unfurling of the Saban
flag Mrs. Cecile Peterson and Mr. Frank Hassell have written a
flag and adapted it to the melody of the Dutch patriotic song
"O schitt'rende kleuren".
Ye colours of Saba's loved flag beaming bright,
How proudly ye float o'er our land!
The red, white and blue stand for all we hold dear,
As united we stand hand in hand.
To us lovely flag, thou a symbol shalt be
Of Saba's deep love and her great lyalty!
To you our dear flag, we now pledge sincere love
While God looketh down from above.
The red in our flag stands for Saba's great strength,
As shown in the past by her men.
The blue shows we're faithful to island and home,
While the white stand for purity true!
Shed thou, golden Star, your bright rays on our home,
And watch o'er us all, wheresoever we roam,
God grant that we'll always be true to our land,
While faith, hope, love go hand in hand.
Jarig Bakker, 1 November 2003
Image according to Album 2000 [pay00].
I don't have official specifications of this flag.
From <www.saba-island.com>:
"SABA'S FLAG: In 1983 the Island Territories of Saba, St.
Maarten and St. Eustatius were created. Since that time Saba has
formed one of these Island Territories. On 15 October 1984 Saba's
Executive Council decided to appoint a committee to study the
issue of a Flag, Coat-of-Arms and Saba Anthem. By Island
Resolution of 18 February 1985 the committee began to work on 1
March 1985 under the Chairmanship of Will Johnson, with
Frank Hassell, Patsy Johnson and Shirley Smith as members. The
contest for the Flag received 130 entrees. Out of 130 entrees,
three were selected by the Committee. Only one could be the
winner, and from the very beginning the entree of 18-year-old
Islander Edmond Johnson, was the favorite. This was chosen for
the Saba Flag, and was adopted on 6 December 1985, the National
Day of the Island Territory of Saba.
SABA FLAG FLIES AT FULL GLORY FOR THE FIRST TIME ON SABA DAY
DECEMBER 6,1985.
THE FLAG'S COLORS: The Golden Star in the center of the white
diamond symbolizes the Island of Saba. The color Red stands for
Unity in Strength and Courage. White stands for Peace and
Friendship Blue stands for the Sea and Sky"
According information provided to me by Christopher Southworth,
the radius of the imaginary circle circumscribing the star is
3/10th of the flag height.
Mark Sensen, 14 December 2003
The island of Saba also held a referendum on 5 November. See
<www.sabatourism.com>.
Option A
- Direct Constitutional ties with The Netherlands got 86.05%.
Paraskevas Renesis, 25 November 2004
Minister Nicolai of Kingdomrelations reached a historic
agreement with Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The islands will become
separate countries, like Aruba. That means that the
co-operation between the Netherlands and the Netherlands
Antilles, as agreed by the "Koninkrijksstatuut" of
1954, will end. It is agreed that there will be a common court of
justice of the Netherlands, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. There are
also agreements on policing and prosecution. The Netherlands will
take care of the debts of the Netherlands Antilles, totalling 2,5
billion Euros. The Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist on 1
July 2007. Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become Dutch
municipalities. Aruba is a separate entity since 1986.
No info about change of flags. The currency is also unclear,
although it seems that Aruba might be forced to enter the
Euro-zone(!)
Source: <www.nos.nl>
reported by Stefan Lambrechts.
Jarig Bakker, 3 November 2007
image by Jarig Bakker, 1 November 2003
Motto of Saba is "REMIS VELISQUE". It is in Latin
and means 'With oars and sails' or with all one's might.
Nozomi Kariyasu and Jarig Bakker, 20 August
2002
Above the shield is a wedgero or Aubudon's Shearwater the
island bird.
Jarig Bakker, 22 August 2002
In latin: Puffinus Iherminieri. I am not sure but I think it
is "AuDuBon's Shearwater".
Victor Lomantsov, 23 August 2002